KLIA to be developed into major aeropolis soon.

19th March, 2013

KLIA to be developed into major aeropolis soon.

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will soon be developed into a major aeropolis or airport city. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said this would be the airport’s next phase of growth.

“We will have Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA, the first upscale Japanese factory outlet park by Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd in South-East Asia. Aside from retail and commercial offerings, KLIA will also host operations of a high-tech industrial and logistics complex to serve the need for aviation-related MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) activities as well as high-value, time sensitive cargo operations,” he said.

KLIA had come a long way since it was first opened in 1998. Bashir said MAHB airports handled 67.2 million passengers last year, of which 32.8 million were international passengers. KLIA handled 85.4% of the international passengers. He said KLIA handles 59.4% of Malaysia’s total passenger traffic and 84% of international cargo. “As such, most of the economic contribution by the aviation sector in Malaysia originates from KLIA,” he said.

He added that KLIA is also the main revenue generator for MAHB and supported 29 other non-profitable community and rural airports. “Some rural airports in East Malaysia operate on a corporate social responsibility basis, with no airport tax or passenger service charge being imposed on travellers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Plus Expressway Bhd (PLUS) managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Noorizah Abdul Hamid said those who worked on the North South Express-way (NSE) in 1986 – considered one of the country’s first major privatisated projects – had benefited from the experience in terms of knowledge transfer. She said locals learned from the foreign consultants working on the project. “This gave them international exposure and many are now working overseas,” she said.

Besides shaving off travelling time and cost, the NSE had also provided an economic lifeline to more than 700 traders as well as mobile hawkers operating at its rest and recreation (R&R) areas. As per Plus’ policy of benefiting the local community, only locals who are staying within a 20km radius of the R&R areas are allowed to trade there.

“In the early days, traders would hang their produce by the guardrails and not many vehicles stopped. “Because of that, we built the R&Rs so that they have safe and comfortable areas to sell their products. The expressway had also become the main artery around which townships, commercial centres and industrial parks have sprouted.

Copyright@1995-2012 Star Publications (M) Bhd